Australia beckons middle school students

Middle school blokes and sheilas from around Western Nevada are gearing up for a trip to the land down under.

"I'm excited to learn about the aquatic and terrestrial life," said Steven Minifie, 13, of Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School. "They're particular animals are a lot different. I want to see kangaroos and snakes and stuff."

Delegates of the People to People Student Ambassador Program must be nominated by a teacher, counselor or other community member.

They are then interviewed to determine their level of maturity and ability to represent the United States.

"I definitely think it's a good idea," said Steven's mother Sherri Minifie. "He'll get to see other cultures and I think it's probably more important that other cultures see what Americans are really like."

About 43 students from Northern Nevada will join with a group from Sacramento to travel to Australia and tour from Sydney up the coast for three weeks near the end of June.

"Ever since I was 5, I've wanted to travel the world," said Carson Middle School student Alissa Watson, 11. "I just like to see different sites and see how the geography is different, the different sites."

Chris Kuhn, a 12-year-old Eagle Valley Middle School student, became interested in Australia when his older sister, Rachel, visited the country through the same program.

"She told me how much fun she had and how exciting it was," he said. "Ever since then, I've been wanting to go."

Chris' father, Charlie Kuhn, was also convinced through Rachel's experience.

"It was an incredibly maturing experience because of the exposure to a different culture and a different society," he said. "She grew up a lot."

Lani McKinley said she had mixed feelings when she learned her daughter, Alissa, had been nominated for the tour. She was convinced to allow her daughter to go, however, once she researched the program.

"I will miss her very much but I know this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her," McKinley. "I think this will open a door for her future and for the other kids."

Before going, the delegates will be required to attend 12 hours of classes ranging from how to pack efficiently to how to interact with dignitaries they will meet along the way, including the mayor of Sydney.

They will also be required to research a subject of their choice pertaining to Australia.

"They're going to be armed with information," said parent Karen Smeath. "They'll know a lot about this."

Her son, Ricky Parsons, 12, of Eagle Valley Middle School, plans to research dangerous fish of the region. He is looking forward, also, to learning a new culture.

"I want to meet people from other places and see how they do things," he said. "I want to see how different their language is and how different their food is."

The students must raise $5,000 each to fund the trip. The group of local middle school students plans to sell bouquets made up of 12 balloons for Valentine's Day. Orders can be made by calling 885-8188 and must be made by Feb. 10.

Other fund-raisers will include garage sales, raffles and perhaps more balloon bouquets for Mother's Day.

The program was developed by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1963. Students receive high school credit for attending and are invited to participate in subsequent trips to different parts of the world until they graduate.

Once in high school, they can receive college credit.

You can help:

To order a balloon bouquet or to make a donation to the group, call Karen Smeath at 885-8818.